Automatic speed and feed change mechanism for machine tools



Nov. 6, 1951 SOULE AL AUTOMATIC SPEED AND FE ED CHANGE MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1948 :HAROLD B60015:

mm m mm 3 mm mm 5 om @P Hm 3 Emma SOULE ETAL AUTOMATIC SPEED AND FEED CHANGE NOV. 6, 1951 MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31-, 1948 Zlwucniovs Ib YROl/D B. SOUL/E: GORDONWILLIQM SMITHSON N 1951 H. s. souu-z ETAL AUTOMATIC SPEED AND FEED CHANGE MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 31, 1948 gwuc/wtoms 9AAROLD B. soULE GORDON WILLIAM sMlTiasoN 1951 H. B. SOULE ETI'AL AUTOMATIC SPEED AND FEED CHANGE MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1948 HAR LD B. SOULE GORDON WILLIAM SMITi-LSON 1951 H. B. SOULE ET AL 2,574,301

AUTOMATIC SPEED AND FEED CHANGE MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed March 31, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet-5 BY Z Z P ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SPEED AND FEED CHANGE MECHANISM FOR MACHINE TOOLS Application March 31, 1948, Serial No. 18,126

2 Claims. (01. 74-335) This invention relates to machine tools having shipping mechanism and more particularly relates to automatic turret lathes having speed and feed shipping mechanism; the invention relating more specifically to the control of the shipping mechanism and to control means whereby an adjusting member of suitable mechanism, such as change-feed-mechanism, may be operated to establish different speed settings of the mechanism.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a machine tool, and particularly an automatic turret lathe, having a construction which is simplified and reduced in cost and maintenance, having a reduced number of parts, requiring minimum replacement of parts due to wear, and at the same time having greater operational efiiciency, being smoother, more positive and quicker in its movements and with reduced lost motion and shock, wear and strain on the parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine tool having change-feed-mechanism and provided with simple, sturdy, durable, eflicient and quick acting control means for controlling the speed settings of the change-feed-mechanism, said control means requiring relatively few parts and being adapted to be assembled and installed easily and quickly, is not apt to get out of adjustment and requires minimum replacement of parts due to wear, the control means being well suited for automatic operation to control the speed setting adjustments of the change-feedmechanism quickly, smoothly, positively and emciently.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

This invention may be said to be an improvement on the machine tool and automatic control means for the change-speed and feed mechanism thereof disclosed in the prior Patent No. 2,357,396, issued September 4, 1944, the improvement flowing in considerable part from the different construction and diiferent arrangement and functioning of the control means for the change-feedmechanism and in placing the shipping means of the change-speed-mechanism immediately adjacent the latter, thereby reducing parts and linkage resulting in quicker and more satisfactory shipping operations.

Reference being had to said patent and particularly to the change-feed-mechanism disclosed therein, the shipping mechanism shown in Fig. thereof is replaced by the present invention with a single piston reciprocable into any one of three predetermined positions in an air cylinder and is connected to the throw lever of a three way clutch of the change-feed-mechanism in such a way that the clutch will be adjusted to establish a difierent speed setting adjustment of the change-feed-mechanism corresponding to each of the three different positions of the piston relatively to the cylinder; and electro-pneumatic means are provided for setting the piston in any one of the said three positions as desired. Also in accordance with this invention there may be other separate pistons shiftable electro-pneumatically into either of two predetermined positions in their cylinders, each piston having a rod which is separately connected directly to the throw lever of a separate clutch. These constructions and arrangements of parts eliminate the more complicated and delicate constructions and arrangements disclosed in said patent for adlusting the throw levers of the clutches of the change speed mechanisms, and serve to render the entire machine tool more simple and economical in construction, and maintenance and more efiicient in operation as well as yielding other improvements and advantages which are readily apparent.

Accordingly this invention consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts set forth in the following description and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims that follow.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of this invention, and in g which:

Figure l is a schematic view of a clutch adjusting control organization embodying this invention, certain parts of the organization being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the piston and switch assembly shown at the lower right of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View of one of the electropneumatic valves of the control organization;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show one way the control organization may be installed on an automatic turret lathe, and in these figures, Figs. 4 and 5,

when read together (side by side), show a rear elevation of an automatic turret lathe equipped with the control means of this invention, certain concealed parts being shown in dash lines and a cover plate of the head stock transmission being removed to expose the elements of this transmission; Fig. 6 is an end view of the lathe looking toward the head stock end, certain parts being shown broken away and other parts being shown in dotted lines to more clearly show the construction; and

Figure 7 is a developed sectional view of the spindle power transmission means when taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which relate most specifically to the control system and means for controlling the setting of the change feed-mechanismof the machine tool illustrated in the drawings, the control system or control meansshown'ihcludes as one feature thereof a piston I reciprocable in an air cylinder 2 provided with air openingsii and 4 entering the cylinder at the front and rear respectively. The piston has a rod portion which extends through a bearing boreG therefor in a block '5 secured to the 'fro'nt of the cylinder and is reciprocable therein. Three-detent plugs'fi, 9 and are mounted'in line in recesses formed in the block I 'and'are biased bysprings H, i2 and i3 disposed respectively between each plug and the bottom'of its recessto urge the conical top ends [4 of 'the plugs to project into the bore '6. The rod 5 has three portions, l5, l6 and ll, of a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the bore 6, the portion [5 being toward the head of the piston l. Between the'portions l5 and IS the rod has a peripheral recess or groove l8 of some width and between the portions i6 and I! the rodhas a peripheral groove l9 of lesser width, andthe outer end of the rod is of reduced diameter as at 5. The side walls It and ll of the'portions l5 and I! and the side wall |5"ofportion l5 adjacent the recess l8 are beveled sothat whenever one of these beveled walls moves 'across the projecting head of one of the plugs-8, 9 or! in rising direction the wall will depress the plug and, whenever one of these walls moves acrossa plug in the opposite direction, the spring, which-is biasing the plug,'will project the plug into the arriving recess. The-larger rod portions 15, l6-and l1 and the recesses and the'plugstl,'9 and- ID are so disposed longitudinally along the rod '5 that, when the head of the piston l -is at --the extreme rear end of its stroke in the cylinder, the larger portion [5 will be-opposite anddepressingplug ID and the larger portion I! will be opposite and depressing the center plug Qand the reduced end of the rod will be opposite pl'ug 8 and this plug is not depressed; and, when the piston head is in its extreme forward end of its stroke in the cylinder, the portions l6 and 'll will be respectively opposite and depressing plugs 8 and 9 and the plug H1 will extend into'recess I8 and is not depressed; and, 'when'the piston head is in a mid-position of its stroke, plug 8 will be on one side of rod portion H, plug 9 will be between rod portions l1 and I6 and plug l0 will extend into recess l8 and no plug is in depressed position.

Pneumatic means are provided to shift'the piston in its cylinder and therewith the rod 5 in the block I and relatively to the plugs8f9 and I0; and electrical means are provided to control the action of the pneumatic means.

The pneumatic means include a main air conduit connected to a source (not shown) of compressed air maintained at a-suitable presair supply line 20. casing c is divided by a partition having a bore 4 sure; 50 pounds pressure or thereabouts being suggested when the change speed mechanism of an automatic turret lathe is involved. Conduit 20 conducts air for shifting the position of piston l to two separate solenoid operated valves, 2| and 22. An air duct 23 leads from valve 2| into the front air aperture 3 in cylinder 2 and an air duct 24 leads into the rear air aperture in the cylinder.

Each of these valves H, 22 comprises an elongated casing 0 having an opening in their lower end which receive a threaded nipple on the main The interior of the valve therein longitudinally of the casing and at the ends'of the boreare provided valve seats d and e. -A'plunger f reciprocates in said bore and has a valve 01' thereon to cooperate with the seat d and has on its other end a valve 2 slidable thereon and normally held against the seat e by a spring g. the v'alvec being opened by thelplunger 'j'whehthe shoulder f contacts in its downward movement the valve e and opens it against pressure of the spring-g. There is'an exhaust port him the side of the casing above the valve d.

The'solenoid s is mounted on the top of the valve and the plunger .9 thereof depresses the plunger 1 when'the solenoid is energized and raises it to full line position when the solenoid is deenergized.

Each of the plugs'B and It] has a stem or tail portion '25, 26 extending through abore in'the block "I and protrudes therefrom and there engages an operating element, such as'a push'button or throw lever of an electric switch 21,28, each of these switches being adapted to close the circuit through it when the plug is depressed and to break the circuit when the plug is not depressed. There are also three other similar switches, 29,"30'and 3| in some suitable location and each is adapted to be closed and opened manually or by suitable automatic mechanism '-Which is indicated merely in' a token manner at X in "Fig. 1. Conductors 32, 33 and 34 connect one pole of switches 29, 36 and- 3! to one line'35'0f a source'of'current supply (not shown). Conductors 35 and 3'l lead respectively from the "otherzpolesof switches 29 and 33 to'the solenoids of valves'2l'and 22 and suitable conductors 38,

39, Head from-the other sides or" these solenoids to the other side of the main current line.

From the other pole of switch 3| a conductor leads to one pole of switch 27 and has abranch 42 going to' one pole of switch28. IA conductor 43 leads from the other pole of switch 2'. to the conductor 36which connects'switch 29 with the solenoid of valve 2|, and a conductor 44 connects the other pole of switch 28 with conductor 31 which connects switch 30 with the solenoid of valve 22.

For the purpose of givingan indication of one waythe electro-pneumatic control'means just described may be used; there is shown in Fig. 1, andmerely as an example and quite diagrammatically, the rod '5 connected to one end of a clutch shifting lever 50 'of a three way clutch comprising a clutching member 5| slidably keyed to a shaft 52, the clutching member having clutch teeth on opposite sides adapted to mesh respectively with complementary toothed'members 53 and carried respectively on gears 55 and 55 which are rotatably mounted on shaft 52. Clutch shifting lever 56 is pivoted intermedia c its ends, as' at 51, its lower end having a yoke engaging the clutching member 51 and its upper end being connected to rod 5 by an adjustable connection 58 whereby they may be so related that, when the piston is at the rear of its cylinder, the clutching member 5I will clutch the toothed member 53 on gear 55 and, when the piston is at the front of the cylinder, the clutching member will clutch the toothed member 54 of gear 56 and, when the piston is in its intermediate position in the cylinder, the clutching member will not clutch either of the members 53 or 54 and the clutch will be in mid-position adjustment. It is comtemplated that shaft 52, gears 55 and 56 and the three way clutch are elements of a change-feed-mechanism capable of three different speed adjustments, one when gear 55 is engaged, another when gear 55 is engaged and a third when the clutch is in midway adjustment. Specifically shaft 52, gears 55 and 56 and the three way clutch are elements of the change-feed-transmission of the machine tool shown in the drawings, but obviously, instead of connecting the piston I to the shift lever of a three way clutch, the piston may be similarly connected to the operating element of a three way electric switch or to the operating element of a three way pneumatic or hydraulic valve to control the setting of such element into any one of three different operating positions and to set the switch or the valve accordingly.

The control means shown in Fig. 1, also includes a piston 65 reciprocable in an air cylinder 5i and having a piston rod 62 attached directly to the shifting arm 53 of a clutch 64, the arm 63 engaging the shifting element of the clutch and which is slidably keyed to a drive shaft 55 of the change-speed-mechanism and is engageable with and disengageable from a gear 55 rotatably mounted on shaft 65, whereby when the piston is at the front of the cylinder (as shown) the clutch is disengaged and the gear 66 not rotated by shaft 65 and when the piston is at the rear of the cylinder the clutch is engaged and the shaft 55 drives the gear 65.

A similar clutch 5'! is mounted on another shaft 68 of the change-speed-mechanism and a simi lar piston 69 working in cylinder has a similar piston rod iI directly attached to the shift lever T2 of this other clutch and whereby when the piston is at the front of its cylinder the clutch is disconnected and the gear I3 which is rotatable on the shaft is not rotated thereby and when the piston is at the rear of the cylinder (as shown) the clutch connects gear I3 to shaft 68 so as to be driven thereby.

Also as shown in Fig. 1, electro-pneumatic means are provided for selectively setting the pistons Ell and 69 in either of their front or rear positions in their cylmders and consequently adjusting the clutches 54 and 6! accordingly. Such means, as shown, include four separate electropneumatic valves 75, I6, 11 and I8 each one like the valve shown in Fig. 3, and four electric switches, i9, 80, SI and 82, one for the solenoid of each valve separately. One side of each switch is separately connected by a conductor, such as 83, 84, 85 and 86 to the line 35 of the source of current supply, and conductors 81, 88, 39 and 9|! connect the other sides of the respective switches to one side of the respective solenoids of valves I5, is, H and 58. The other sides of the solenoids are connected respectively by conductors 91, 92, 93 and 95 to the conductor 40 which leads to the other line of the source of current supply. Each of valves 15, I6, 11 and I8 is connected to the air pressure conduit 20 which receives air under pressure from a suitable source, and each valve has an exhaust port as shown in Fig. 3. An air conduit leads from valve I5 into the front of cylinder 10; an air conduit 96 leadsfrorn valve lfi'into the rear of cylinder I0; an air conduit 91 from valve Ti leads into the front of cylinder El; and an air duct 98, leads from valve 18 into the rear of cylinder 6|. The four switches are adapted to be opened and closed automatically by suitable means which are indicated in token manner at Y in Fig. 1. It is contemplated that shafts 65 and 68, gears 65 and 73 and clutches 6a, and 67 comprise elements of a change speed transmission mechanism capable of four different speed adjustments, one when neither clutch is engaged, one when clutch 64 is engaged and clutch 5i disengaged, a third when clutch 61 is engaged and clutch 64 disengaged and a fourth speed adjustment when both clutches are engaged.

To more clearly understand one possible construction of an improved machine tool embodying the control features described above there is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, an improved automatic turret lathe having such control. As shown, the machine tool generally has the following component parts-a base or bed I Hi which comprises a hollow casting having on one end a head stock III and having mounted on the top of the base a turret slide or carriage H2 which reciprocates on ways I It to and fro longitudinally of the base relatively to the head stock; an indexible turret IM mounted on the slide or carriage H2 and cross slides arranged on the base between the head stock and the turret slide to move transversely of the base. The cross slides, last mentioned, are not illustrated in the present disclosure as their inclusion has no particular relation to the subject matter of the present invention, but reference may be had to United States Patent No. 1,881,928, Where said cross slides are shown at I55 and the means for actuating them from the feed shaft, which also actuates the turret slide, is illustrated and described. The spindle II5 may have a chuck, work fixture or other workholding device (not shown), affixed to the end thereof opposite the turret II as is well understood in the art. The spindle H5 is driven from a constant speed shaft 65 through intermediate shafts and clutches which provide for changes in speed through automatic control and through a direct connection between the spindle H5 and the cam drum II'l, which operates the turret slide, a feed is provided which is always relative to the spindle revolutions. The constant speed shaft 65 is driven from a belt pulley or an electric motor I I8 (as the case may be), and has rotatably mounted thereon a gear 65 and also ha keyed thereon a gear I29. The gear 66 meshes with a gear IZI keyed on the intermediate shaft I22 and the gear I25 meshes with an overrunning gear I23 (otherwise known as a three roller gear) keyed on the shaft I22, which latter also has keyed thereon a pinion gear I25 The gear l2I on intermediate shaft I22 meshes with a gear 73 rotatably mounted on an intermediate shaft 58 while the pinion gear I24 on shaft I22 meshes with an overrunning gear I2! keyed on shaft 58. Keyed on an end of the shaft 58, extending exteriorly of the spindle transmission casing I I I, is a gear I28 which meshes with a gear I29 similarly mounted and keyed on an end of an intermediate shaft I30 which als has a pinion gear I3I keyed thereon and meshing with the gear I32 surrounding and keyed on the spindle H5. The gears I28 and I29 are hand-pick-ofi gears (otherwise known as "hand change gears) *whichallow for .a full range of the spindle .speeds within the capacity of the machineaccording to theselection of hand change gears that is made :to ,meet particular requirements. On constant speed drive shaft Bis mounted also a friction clutch @54 whose fixed part is fastened to or .part of the gear 166 and whose slidable part or cone is keyed to the shaft 65. Likewise .on shaft .68 is mounted 1a similar friction clutch 61 whose fixed part is fastenedito or part of the gear 1'3 andwhose'slidable'part of cone iskeyed to the shaft 68.

Thus, it will be seen that four diiferentspeed changes may be effectedautomaticallyifor driving the spindle from the source of :power :I,IB-- (1) by disengaging of both clutches .64 and 161,; (2) by engaging only clutch 64; (3) by engaging only clutch 551; (4) by engaging both .clutch :64 and 61.

In the headstock I I I,a take-offshaft I33- (Figs. 6 and '7) is journalled and has .a gear I34 .fast thereon and meshing with a gear I35 on the spindle II5. From this shaft I33 power is taken to drive the feed mechanism which lactuates .the turret slide IIE (as Well as'the cross-slides not shown) during cutting operations of :thetools carried by said slides. This power is transmitted through a sprocket chain I36 trained ,over sprocket wheel I'3'I fast on shaft I23 and over sprocket wheel I38 fast on shaft I40 journalled in transmission feed-box I39 carried at the side of the base IE5 below the headstock III .(Figs.;5 and 6).

The mechanism contained in feed-box I39 provides automatically three changes in-speed ofzthe feed-shaft I4I, which is driven therefrom. The feed-shaft I4I drives cam drum III, throug-h suitable gear connections not'shown, and a cam follower I I'lu, on the turret slide extends into the cam path I llb of the cam drum, thereby causing the turret slide to be reciprocated to and .fro. relatively to the spindle II5, on its ways II3. Taking off from feed shaft I4I through abevel gear connection Idle is a worm shaft I44 which meshes with, a gear on a switch actuating dog drum I43 to rotate it.

Respecting the feed box I39, the shaft Miljmay be a divided shaft and has keyed to itpinions 5| and gear I52, which, respectively, mesh with gear I53 and pinion I54 both keyedwonganeintei mediate shaft 255. Pinion I54 meshes with a gear I55 keyed to countershaft I51. The ends of shaft 55? extend through the feed box, one end having keyed thereto a gear F which "meshes with a gear F on stub shaft I58 which also has keyed to its other end a pinion L59 meshing with an overrunning gear I65 keyed on the shaft z52. The other end of the shaft I5? has keyed thereto a gear M meshing with a gear M keyed on the stub shaft IEI, which also has keyed to its :inner end a gear I52 meshing with gear .56 rotatable on shaft 52. In like manner, the other extending end of the shaft 5 49 has keyed to it gear C :meshing with gear C keyed on stub shaft I54, which latter has keyed to it a gear I65 meshing with gear 55 rotatable on shaft-52. The-gears ,C and C are hand change gears for coarse feed, the gears M and M are hand change gears for medium feed and the gears F and-F are hand change gears for fine feed. A;clutch'i5I is interposed between the gears 55 and 155,1as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and'5, to connect :either of them to the shaft 52 orywhen in mid-wayiposition, to disconnect both of them. -T his.c1ut,ch may .be of any suitable type, .but ;is :here .shown asof the tooth type, comprising a slidable clutch ing member keyed ,on the shaft 52, and the opposing hub faces of these gears '55 and 55 .being provided with ,complemental clutching surfaces 53 and .54. Therefore, when the shaft I40 is driven and the clutch is in mid-way position, the feed-box mechanism is in fine feed and thedrive is from pinion I5I, gear I53, shaft I55, pinion I,54,.g,ear I56, handchangegears F and F, pinion I55 to the overrunning gear I60 which drives shaft52, pinion I46 and overrunning gear I45 on the feed shaft I4 I. When the clutch 5I is engaged withthegearfit, the'mechanism is in medium feed and the drive is from shaft I40, pinion I5I, gear I53, shaft I55, pinion I54, gear I58, shaft I5'I, hand change gears Mand M, shaft 61, gear I52, gear 55, clutch .5I, shaft 52, pinion I48 and overrunning gear L45 on feed shaft I4I. When the clutch .5I is engaged with the .gear 55, the mechanism is in coarse feed and the drive is from shaft I40, pinion I5I,gear I53, shaft I55, pinion I54, .gear I52, shaft 149a, hand change gears C and C, shaft I54, gear I85, gear 55, clutch .5I, shaft 52, pinion Iiiand overrunning gear I45 on feed shaft I4 I. When the shaft-52 is being driven from either the .gears .58 or 55, it will overrun the gear I55. The shaft I40 may be solid throughout, instead of divided as shown, in which case gear I52 is eliminated.

The yoke members63 and 12 which actuate the sliding parts respectively of the clutches G4 and 61 are each operated .by the piston 55 in its cylinder GI and the piston 69 in its cylinder is, respectively, which are disposed to the rear of the headstock end of the machine and supported from the feed box '39, the pistons having rcds.62 and ii connected directly to the yoke members 54 and 12.

The above description explains those portions of an automatic :turret lathe to which the present invention is concerned-that it is the operation of the two clutches 54 and GT in the headstock unit III and the clutch 5I in the feedbox unit 139 under the automatic control of dogs I 43a adjustably' and selectively mounted on the dog drum I43 which makes one revolution for each cycle of operation of the machine. A cycle of operation of the machine embraces its'operation where the turret slide has reciprocated back and forth relative to the spindle a number of times corresponding to the number of faces on the turretor to the number offaces which have been brought to index position for the tools thereon to perform work on a given subject-workpiece. .'The operation of these clutches is attained, to accomplish the objects of the invention, by an electro-pneumatic mechanism schematically shown inFigure l, and it is obvious that the clutches 55, 64 and 57 may be caused to be placed in selected adjustment and in selected timing relatively to each other by merely properly adjusting the control switches in the proper sequence; and that such adjustments of the switches may be effected either manually or by suitable automatic means, anexample of the latter being shown associated with the automatic turret lathe described herein and illustrated in the drawings.

In order to better understand the operation of the machine tool and thezautomatic control of the speed-and feed shipping mechanism an example of one possible operationof the machine will now be given as one illustration of the operations at specific speeds. Accordingly, assume a machine 15 set up requiring spindle speeds of 16,28, 54, and

93 R. P. M. of the spindle, and assume that in combination with those speed changes turret and cross slide feeds of .009", .034" and .165, per spindle revolution are required. First the proper sets of hand change gears are put in place. To secure a spindle speed of 16 R. P. M. the headstock friction clutches e and G7 are both disengaged. To change the speed of the spindle from 16 to 28 R. P. M. it is necessary to cause the friction clutch 54 on the main drive shaft 55 to be engaged. To engage the friction clutch 64, a dog is applied to the dog drum which will cause the switch 8| to energize the solenoid in the valve 11, which in turn opens the air supply under pressure to the right hand side of the air cylinder 6|. As the air under pressure enters the air cylinder 6|, it will cause the piston to travel the full distance to the left hand side of the air cylinder, which will result in the engagement of the friction clutch 52 with gear 56.

To still f rther increase t e speed of the spindle from 28 to 54 R. P. M. we must first disengage the friction clutch E4 on the main drive shaft and then engage the friction clutch 6'! on headst ck s a t ll. The o"eration described s accomplished by the application of two dogs to the dog drum, one of which will establish contact with the switch 82, which will energize the solenoid in the valve 18, admitting air under pressure to the left hand side of the air cylinder 5|, thereby disengaging the friction clutch 64 on the headstock main drive shaft 65. As we must now engage the friction clutch 61 on headstock shaft number 68, another dog is attached to the dog r m. contactin switch 1. 3 and e er i"ng t e solenoid in valve 15. The valve 15 will admit air under pressure on the right side of the piston in the air cylinder Hi, causing that piston to travel to the extreme left and engage gear 13.

As it is now desired to still further increase the speed of the spindle to 93 R. P. M. both friction clutches E i and 61 in the headstock must be engaged. As the friction clutch 61 on headstock shaft 68 is already engaged it is only necessary to a l one do to the do' d um w ich will establish a contact in the switch 85 energizing the solenoid in the valve 11, which will induce a flow of air under pressure on the right hand side of the air cylinder 6|, which will cause a travel of the piston in the cylinder to the extreme left, establishing the engagement of the friction cluch E i, in combination with the friction clutch 61 already engaged.

The three feed ch nqes, previously listed as an example, namely .609", .034 and .165", are obtained by three positions of the feed clutch 5i. The fine feed is seer-red by allowing that feed clutch to remain in mid-way position. The medium feed, or .034 is secured by shifting the feed clutch 5| to the left hand. The course feed, or .165" is secured by shifting the feed clutch 5| to the right. For the purpose of citing this example of automatic shifting of the feeds enumerated, consider the machine to be feeding at the .009 rate per spindle revolution. As the piston in the feed clutch operating air cylinder 2 is in its mid-way position, and it is desired to make a change from .009 to .034" per revolution of the spindle, as previously stated, the feed clutch 5| must be shifted to the left. As the bell crank acting as a clutch shift ever is fucrumed in the center the piston in the air cylinder 2 must be shifted to the extreme right by applying a dog to the dog drum, which will contact the switch 29, energizing the solenoid in the valve 2|, and

causing air to enter the left hand side of the air cylinder 2. To reverse the feed clutch 5| to the extreme right hand engagement, which will produce a change in feed from .034" to .165", a dog must be attached to the dog drum contacting the switch 39, which will energize the solenoid in the valve 22, allowing the air under pressure to enter the right hand side of the air cylinder 2, throwing the piston to the extreme left hand side of the air cylinder 2. The machine has now reached the end of its cycle with the piston in the air cylinder 2, at the extreme end of its stroke to the left.

To prepare the machine for the beginning of a new cycle, starting once again with a feed of .009" per spindle revolution, the piston in air cylinder 2 must be returned to its central position in the cylinder bore. To accomplish that movement of the piston, thereby restoring the feed clutch 5| to its mid-way position, a dog is attached to the dog drum, which will establish a contact at the switch 3|. Thus the current is able to pass through the switch 21, previously closed by the action of the piston rod operated by the air cylinder 2, and thence to solenoid of valve 2|, thereby directing air under pressure to the left hand side of the cylinder 2. The piston in the air cylinder is thus forced to the right until it reaches its midway position. The spring plunger 8 operating the switch 21 has held that switch in a closed position during the passage of the piston from the extreme left to its midway position in the cylinder 2. As the piston reaches the fore mentioned position, the spring'plunger 8 connected with the switch 21, drops back on to the smaller diameter of the piston rod, thereby breaking the circuit, and de-energizing the solenoid valve 2|. The supply of air under pressure is thus cut off from the air cylinder 2 preventing further movement of the piston. If the cycle of the machine had been completed leaving the piston in the air cylinder 2 at the extreme right, instead of the extreme left, the piston could have been returned to its central position in the same manner as We have described in the sentences directly preceding, through the medium of the same switch 3| used in conjunction with the switch 28 and the solenoid valve 22.

Obviously other speeds and other relative feeds may be had by using appropriate sets of hand change gears. Also as previously stated, the changes may be under the manual control of the operator instead of automatic; and, of course, mechanisms other than the specific mechanism illustrated and described for the automatic control of the machine may be employed. Also, as previously stated, the clutch adjusting and setting control means may be applied to operating members of electric switches and pneumatic and hydraulic valves, or other devices, instead of specifically to shift levers of mechanical clutches.

From the above it will be seen that the objects of the invention have been attained and that the change speed and feed mechanism requiring instantaneous movement is actuated effectually with a greatly reduced number of parts and at substantially less cost.

Having thus described the invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed, it is understood that certain changes may be made in the precise construction shown and described which fall within the terms of the appended claims.

That which is claimed as new is:

1. In an automatic turret lathe, the combina- 11 tion of a spindle and aco-operating turret-slide movable to and fro relative to the spindle; means for acutating said slide including a change-feedmechanism; pneumatically operated means to set the change-feed-mechanism in various selected feed positions; said pneumatically operated means comprising a cylinder and a pistonreciprocable therein and operatively connected to said change-feed mechanism, a source of airpressure supply connected to said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston to reciprocate said piston from one extreme position to the other extreme position, an air valve in each air connection to said cylinder for controlling the air supply to each side of said piston, solenoids for actuating each valve respectively, an electric circuit for each solenoid including a control switch therein; a control dog-drum driven by the slide actuating means and including pre-settable dogs thereon to selectively close and release said control switches to energize and deenergize said solenoids for opening and closing said valves selectively; two conditioning switches arranged to be actuated by the opposite movements of said piston to alternately open and close said conditioning switches when said piston is moved in either direction from either of its extreme positions to the other extreme position, and both conditioning switches being released to open, when said piston is moved into an intermediate position, each of said conditioning switches being electrically connected respectively to one of said solenoids controlling air supply for moving the piston toward its other extreme position and shunting said control switches; and another control switch positioned to be selectively actuated by a dog on said drum for closing electrical current supply to said conditioning switches for energizing the solenoid connected to the closed conditioning switch to apply air pressure to move said piston toward its other extreme position until said last mentioned conditioning switch is opened at said intermediate position of said piston, whereby said piston is actuated through said do; drum at pre-determined times in the operation of the machine from one extreme position to the other without stopping at an intermediate position or from either extreme position to an intermediate position, or vice versa, to automatically and preselectably shift and change-feed mechanism to change-feed positions.

2. An automatic turret lathe as set forth in claim 1 wherein the piston has a piston rod and wherein said conditioning switches are normally biased to open and arranged in spaced relation along the length of said piston rod, an enlargement formed on the piston rod and arranged to disengage said conditioning switches when the piston is in an intermediate position, thus allowing the switches to open, and to engage only one of said conditioning switches at a time to close the same, when the piston is moved in either direction beyond said intermediate position while disengaging the other of said conditioning switches.

HAROLD B. SOUL-E. GORDON W. SMITHSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,220,996 Feigel Nov. 12, 1940 2,234,463 Brewer Mar. 11, 1941 2,244,092 Wheeler June 3, 1941 2,357,396 Fuller Sept. 5, 1944 2,360,976 Peterson Oct. 24, 1944 

